Method and apparatus for preparing copies or duplicates of wide band record carriers on which signals are recorded

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing duplicates of wide band record carriers on which signals of a continuous program are recorded in a hundred or more track sections arranged side-by-side across the width of the band and generally parallel to the length of the band, the track sections being separate and parallel to the length of the band or being made continuous either by arranging them in a helical path inclined slightly to the length of the band or by arranging them parallel to the length of the band and interconnecting them by inclined sections so that continuous reproduction is possible. Such recordings have a playing time of several hours. The method and apparatus herein described employ multiple playback heads past which the master wide band record, which may be in the form of an endless loop provided with a length of blank band between the ends of the track sections, is fed, and multiple recording heads respectively energized by the corresponding one of the playback heads and past which a copy band is fed, whereby the track sections may be duplicated simultaneously. The heads may be staggered along the paths of the respective bands and may, where the track sections are made continuous, follow tracking paths so that the duplicates have the track sections recorded thereon as a continuous program corresponding to the recording on the master wide band record being copied. By means of the invention the duplicates of the master recordings can be produced quickly and economicaly.

United States Patent Ahy [451 July 25, 1972 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COPIES OR DUPLICATES OF WIDE BAND RECORD CARRIERS ON WHICH SIGNALS ARE RECORDED Jahangir M. Ahy, 13 Duke St., Manchester Square, London W.l, England [22] Filed: Nov. 10, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 875,101

[72] Inventor:

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 583,898, Oct. 3,

1966, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 179/1002 E, 179/100.2 CA [51] Int. Cl..... ..Gllb 5/86 [58] Field of Search 1 79/1002 E, 100.2 CA

Primary Examiner-J. Russell Goudeau Anorneyl-lolcombe, Wetherill & Brisebois [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention provides a method and apparatus for preparing duplicates of wide band record carriers on which signals of a continuous program are recorded in a hundred or more track sections arranged side-by-side across the width of the band and generally parallel to the length of the band, the track sections being separate and parallel to the length of the band or being made continuous either by arranging them in a helical path inclined slightly to the length of the band or by arranging them parallel to the length of the band and interconnecting them by inclined sections so that continuous reproduction is possible. Such recordings have a playing time of several hours.

The method and apparatus herein described employ multiple playback heads past which the master wide band record, which may be in the form of an endless loop provided with a length of blank band between the ends of the track sections, is fed, and multiple recording heads respectively energized by the corresponding one of the playback heads and past which a copy band is fed, whereby the track sections may be duplicated simultaneously. The heads may be staggered along the paths of the respective bands and may, where the track sections are made continuous, follow tracking paths so that the duplicates have the track sections recorded thereon as a continuous program corresponding to the recording on the master wide band record being copied. By means of the invention the duplicates of the master recordings can be produced quickly and economicaly.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COPIES OR DUPLICATES OF WIDE BAND RECORD CARRIERS ON WHICH SIGNALS ARE RECORDED This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 583,898 filed on 3rd Oct. 1966 now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for preparing copies or duplicates of wide band record carries on which signals are recorded magnetically, mechanically, optically or in any other way in a plurality of spaced parallel track sections extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the band. The wide band record may be in the form of an endless loop on which the signals are recorded in track sections constituting a continuous track arranged in a helical path inclined slightly to the length of the band. Alternatively, the track sections may be arranged side-by-side parallel to the length of the band, in which case they may be interconnected by inclined sections at one zone of the band so that continuous reproduction is possible. With such records the transducer head is advanced across the band as the record is played back. In another form of wide band record, the band is not endless, the parallel track sections being successively reproduced when the end of one track is reached by reversing the direction of motion of the band when the end of the track section is reached, the transducer head being shifted across the band to playback from the next track section. Such wide band recordings have a long playing time a 6 inch wide band can accommodate 110 or more magnetic track sections so that a band 100 feet long can carry 1,1000 feet of recording) and the invention has for an object to provide a method of and apparatus for preparing copies or duplicates of such master recordings easily and quickly.

The signals may be recorded on the copies or duplicates with the same mode of recording as the master recording, for example magnetically from a master magnetic recording, or with a different mode of recording from the master, for example a magnetically recorded duplicate from an optically or mechanically recorded master.

According to this invention, copies or duplicates of the master recorded band are prepared by repetitively feeding the master band, preferably with its ends joined together to form an endless loop which has a length of blank band between the ends of the track sections, past a playback device comprising a plurality of playback transducer heads disposed across the band and corresponding in number and position to the number and position of track sections on the master band, and copying the recorded signals on to a copy band which is fed past a recording device comprising a corresponding number of recording transducer heads disposed transversely across the copy band in relative positions corresponding to the relative positions of the playback transducer heads of the playback device, the plural signal outputs simultaneously produced from the individual playback transducer heads of the playback device being fed respectively to the corresponding recording transducer heads of the recording divice to simultaneously record the signals in corresponding track sections on the copy band.

According to a feature of the invention, the transducer heads of the playback device are staggered along the length of the master band, the transducer heads of the recording device being similarly staggered.

The copy band may be drawn from a supply source, such as a reel, and fed continuously through the copying machine as the master band, in the form of an endless loop, is repetitively circulated passed the playback transducer heads, whereby a plurality of copies are produced on successive portions of the copy band which is then severed into lengths each comprising a copy of the master record. The severed lengths may then, if appropriate for the recording in question, have their ends joined together to form an endless loop. Alternatively, the copy band may be cut to the correct length before it is passed through the machine for recording. In this case the copy band may have its ends joined together to form it into an endless loop before recording.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, and without limiting the scope of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawing,

The master band B, in the form of an endless loop and having signals recorded thereon in separate parallel track sections arranged side-by-side parallel to the length of the band, is mounted on suitable drive rollers and tensioning rollers 101. The band is continuously driven by a motor (not shown) past a playback device constituted by playback head assemblies 102a, l02b and 1020, each comprising a plurality of transducer heads assembled side-by-side. The assembly 102a carries a number of transducer heads positioned to pick up signals recorded in the first, fourth, seventh, etc. tracks on the band B. The assembly l02b has a number of transducer heads to pick up signals recorded in tracks two, five, eight and so on and the assembly l02c has heads to pick up signals recorded in tracks three, six, nine and so on. By this arrangement, the transducer heads of the playback device are disposed across the path of the master band B in rows staggered along said path. 4

The copy band B1 is drawn from a bulk supply reel 103 and is fed continuously by driving and guide rollers 104 past recording head assemblies 105a, l05b and 105C comprising assemblies of transducer heads similar to the playback assemblies 102a, l02b and 1020 respectively. The signal outputs from the plural heads of the playback device 102 are individually amplified in a series of amplifiers indicated at 106 and fed respectively to the corresponding transducer heads of the recording device 105. The copy band, after recording, is cut into record lengths by the cutting device 107.

By staggering the playback and recording transducer heads, it is possible to have the individual track sections very close together whilst making the transducer heads of a size which can be conveniently manufactured and, if necessary, screened from one another to avoid cross-talk between the tracks. Whilst the apparatus has been described with the transducer heads in three rows with the heads in the same row scanning every third track section, it will be appreciated that a different number of rows may be provided and the spacing of the heads in each row may be irregular.

A marking device 110, for example a writing device, may mark the end and beginning of the recorded portions on the copies, for example by marking a stepped line along the edge of the copy band.

A blank portion 111 is provided in the master band. Thus blank spaces are provided on the duplicate copies corresponding to the blank portion of the endless loop and separating the copies is facilitated.

The blank portion 111 may be of any length; for example it may be long enough to form blank lengths constituting leaders at each end of the recorded copies.

If it is desired to record a single copy on an endless band then a feed mechanism similar to the mechanism 100, 101 is provided for the copy band. In this case, the blank portion 1 X1 in the master recorded band must be long enough to accommodate the staggered heads of the assemblies 102a, 102k and 1020 and also (unless the transducer heads are switched off when the copy has been made) to allow for the time taken for the apparatus to stop after the copy has been made.

However, if means are provided for sequentially switching off the playback transducer heads so that each head is switched off when it is opposite the end of that one of the track sections on the master band B which it is scanning, the blank portion 111 may be shorter. To this end, in the embodiment illustrated, the playback transducer heads of the assembly 102a will be switched off first, followed by the heads of the assembly l02b and then those of the assembly 102e, the time elapsing between the heads of the different rows being switched off depending upon the speed at which the master band B is being driven.

The apparatus and method described above are particularly suitable for preparing copies or duplicates of master recorded bands for use with the signal recording and/or playback apparatus described and illustrated in the specification and drawings of my U.S. application Ser. No. 819,862 filed Apr. 28, i969.

For duplicating a master record on which the track sections are arranged helicoidally on the band, cam mechanisms 108, 109 are associated with the playback device 102, and recording device [05 respectively for causing the assemblies to be displaced transversely of the bands B and B1 through a distance of one track pitch while the band B makes one complete revolution, whereupon the head assemblies restore to their original track positions. The endless loop of the master recorded band is opened and the length of blank band 111 is joined between its ends. The endless master loop thus formed is introduced into the playback unit and adjusted in such a way that the start of a recorded track section, which is previously marked (for example by the joint), is located exactly in register with the first head of the pick-up assembly 102a. All the other tracks will, during copying, register with the other heads.

After one complete revolution of the master band, during which each of the playback and recording head assemblies makes the one track pitch transverse movement across its associated band, so that the signals on all the helicoidal tracks are picked-up from the master band and similarly recorded on the copy" band, the head assemblies suddenly return to their initial position, which movement takes place over the blank portion 111 of the loop. The cycle is then repeated to print another copy. Since the restoration of the playback heads is accomplished whilst the heads are opposite the blank portion 111 of the master band, this blank portion 111 must be at least long enough to accommodate the staggered heads and to enable the restoration to be accomplished. If the playback and recording transducer heads are not staggered, then the length of blank band may be short, for example one-half inch wide.

When duplicating master records in which the track sections extend parallel to the longitudinal edges of the tape, it is not necessary to give either the playback or recording head as semblies a transverse movement as the master record is being copied, except where such parallel track sections are joined by inclined sections to form a continuous track, in which case the heads are given a transverse movement corresponding to these inclined sections by a suitable cam mechanism. Where the recorded track sections start and finish away from the two ends of the band, which are joined to form the loop, by a distance appropriate for attaching the ends of the copies to their spools, the insertion of an additional length of band to form the blank portion 1 ll is unnecessary.

The duplication of the master record can be effected at any appropriate speed which enables the duplicate records to have the required response and fidelity characteristics. Thus for a record containing only speech of which the upper reproduction frequency would not exceed 3,000 cps. the record can be copied at say five times normal track speed without detriment to the quality of the signals reproduced from the duplicate. All the track sections are, of course, copied simultaneously.

The transducer heads of the playback and recording head assemblies may be of the magnetic, mechanical or optical types to playback from or record magnetic, mechanical or optical recordings, and recording heads may be of a different type from the playback heads.

The signals recorded on the bands which can be copied as above described need not be sound signals. They can also be signals for automation control, data processing, or for any other purpose.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, several copies may be made simultaneously using several copy hands by providing two or more recording devices and a corresponding number of feed mechanisms for the copy bands. Alternatively, a copy band two or more times the width of the master recorded band may be used, a corresponding number of recording devices being provided so that two or more copies are made side-by-side on the copy band. After the copies have been made, the band is severed longitudinally to separate the copies.

1 claim:

1. The method of preparing copies of wide band record carriers on which signals are recorded in a plurality of track sections arranged side-by-side across the width of the band and generally parallel to the length of the band, said sections constituting parts of a continuous long playing track, which consists in repetitively circulating the master band, in the form of an endless loop provided with a blank portion between the ends of the track sections, past a playback device comprising a plurality of playback transducer heads disposed across the path of the master band in rows staggered along said path, heads for scanning adjacent track sections being in different rows, said heads corresponding in number and position to the number and position of the signal track sections on the master band, controlling the tracking of said playback transducer heads to move each said head transversely across the copy band by a small distance from an initial position, so that each head follows the path of its corresponding track section, and then to restore it to its initial position, during one complete circuit of the master band, said restoration occurring, to align said playback transducer heads with the oncoming ends of the track sections, while the playback transducer heads are opposite the blank portion of the endless loop master band, and copying the signals recorded during each traverse of the master band past the playback transducer heads on to a copy band by drawing the copy band from a supply source and feeding it past a recording device comprising a corresponding number of recording transducer heads disposed transversely across the copy band in relative positions corresponding to the relative positions of the playback transducer heads of the playback device while controlling the tracking of said recording transducer heads in a manner corresponding to the tracking of said playback transducer heads, the plural signal outputs simultaneously produced from the individual playback transducer heads being fed respectively to the corresponding recording transducer heads to simultaneously record the signals in corresponding track sections on the copy band, blank spaces being provided on the copy band corresponding to the blank portion of the endless loop master band, and severing the recorded copy band through the blank spaces into lengths each comprising a copy of the signals recorded on the master band.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blank portion between the ends of the track sections of the master band is of a length not less than the overall length occupied by the staggered playback transducer heads.

3. Apparatus for preparing copies of wide band record carriers on which signals are recorded in a plurality of track sections arranged side-by-side across the width of the band and generally parallel to the length of the band, said sections constituting parts of a continuous long playing track, comprising: a playback device comprising a plurality of playback transducer heads disposed in a plurality of rows, with a plurality of transducer heads arranged side-by-side in each row, heads for scanning adjacent said track sections being in different rows, means for repetitively advancing a master band, in the form of an endless loop, across said playback device in a direction transverse to said rows of said playback transducer heads; a recording device comprising a plurality of recording transducer heads equal in number to the number of playback transducer heads and disposed in a plurality of rows in the same manner as the playback transducer heads; a source of copy band, means for drawing a copy band from said source and advancing it across said recording device in a direction transverse to said rows of recording transducer heads to form along the copy band copies of the signals recorded during each traverse of the master band across said playback device; a plurality of amplifiers equal in number to the number of playback transducer heads and each haing an input and an output; a plurality of connections between each playback transducer head and the input of a corresponding one of said amplifiers distance from an initial position and then restoring the playback device to its initial position during one complete circuit of the master band; and means for simultaneously progressively moving the recording device in the direction of its said rows of recording transducer heads through a small distance from an initial position and then restoring it to its initial position. 

1. The method of preparing copies of wide band record carriers on which signals are recorded in a plurality of track sections arranged side-by-side across the width of the band and generally parallel to the length of the band, said sections constituting parts of a continuous long playing track, which consists in repetitively circulating the master band, in the form of an endless loop provided with a blank portion between the ends of the track sections, past a playback device comprising a plurality of playback transducer heads disposed across the path of the master band in rows staggered along said path, heads for scanning adjacent track sections being in different rows, said heads corresponding in number and position to the number and position of the signal track sections on the master band, controlling the tracking of said playback transducer heads to move each said head transversely across the copy band by a small distance from an initial position, so that each head follows the path of its corresponding track section, and then to restore it to its initial position, during one complete circuit of the master band, said restoratiOn occurring, to align said playback transducer heads with the oncoming ends of the track sections, while the playback transducer heads are opposite the blank portion of the endless loop master band, and copying the signals recorded during each traverse of the master band past the playback transducer heads on to a copy band by drawing the copy band from a supply source and feeding it past a recording device comprising a corresponding number of recording transducer heads disposed transversely across the copy band in relative positions corresponding to the relative positions of the playback transducer heads of the playback device while controlling the tracking of said recording transducer heads in a manner corresponding to the tracking of said playback transducer heads, the plural signal outputs simultaneously produced from the individual playback transducer heads being fed respectively to the corresponding recording transducer heads to simultaneously record the signals in corresponding track sections on the copy band, blank spaces being provided on the copy band corresponding to the blank portion of the endless loop master band, and severing the recorded copy band through the blank spaces into lengths each comprising a copy of the signals recorded on the master band.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blank portion between the ends of the track sections of the master band is of a length not less than the overall length occupied by the staggered playback transducer heads.
 3. Apparatus for preparing copies of wide band record carriers on which signals are recorded in a plurality of track sections arranged side-by-side across the width of the band and generally parallel to the length of the band, said sections constituting parts of a continuous long playing track, comprising: a playback device comprising a plurality of playback transducer heads disposed in a plurality of rows, with a plurality of transducer heads arranged side-by-side in each row, heads for scanning adjacent said track sections being in different rows, means for repetitively advancing a master band, in the form of an endless loop, across said playback device in a direction transverse to said rows of said playback transducer heads; a recording device comprising a plurality of recording transducer heads equal in number to the number of playback transducer heads and disposed in a plurality of rows in the same manner as the playback transducer heads; a source of copy band, means for drawing a copy band from said source and advancing it across said recording device in a direction transverse to said rows of recording transducer heads to form along the copy band copies of the signals recorded during each traverse of the master band across said playback device; a plurality of amplifiers equal in number to the number of playback transducer heads and each haing an input and an output; a plurality of connections between each playback transducer head and the input of a corresponding one of said amplifiers respectively; a plurality of further connections between the output of each amplifier and one of the recording transducer heads respectively; the output of an amplifier being connected to that one of the recording transducer heads which is correspondingly positioned to that playback transducer head which is connected to the input to said amplifier; means for progressively moving the playback device in the direction of its said rows of playback transducer heads through a small distance from an initial position and then restoring the playback device to its initial position during one complete circuit of the master band; and means for simultaneously progressively moving the recording device in the direction of its said rows of recording transducer heads through a small distance from an initial position and then restoring it to its initial position. 